One in two mature age workers stayed in their last role for more than four years whilst only one in three younger workers said they stayed in a job for the same amount of time.

Hays Resources and Mining regional director Ben Hiles said with such a huge shortage in workers, especially in key industrial areas, mature age workers were perfect candidates given their retention rates.

According to the Hays survey 28% of mature age workers stayed in a position for under two years, 22% stayed in a position for two to four years and almost 50% stayed in a position for more than four years. In the same survey only 34% of younger age workers stayed in one position for more than four years.

“Not only do these candidates bring skills and experience gained over many years to a workplace, they will also remain with an organisation longer, and in doing so they help reduce overall recruitment costs and increase a company’s retention rate,” Hiles said.

Almost 3700 people completed the survey.